Night Helicopter EMS Night Helicopter EMS (HEMS) Operations Safety(HEMS) Operations Safety

Paul M. Schaaf, Chief PilotPaul M. Schaaf, Chief Pilot

Fairfax County Police Helicopter Fairfax County Police Helicopter DivisionDivision

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Excerpt from FAA NOTICE N 8000.301

A preliminary review of the commercial HEMS accidents from January 1998 through December 2004 revealed that

•CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN (CFIT),

•INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND

•LACK OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL

are predominant factors, particularly at night and during low visibility conditions.

Excerpt from FAA NOTICE N 8000.301Continued

Of the 27 fatal HEMS accidents, 21 occurred during night operations. Of the 21 night accidents, 16 of the operations originated under visual flight rules (VFR); the pilots inadvertently flew into IMC conditions, resulting in a CFIT accident.

Three Steps to SafetyThree Steps to Safety

• Break the VFR/IFR wall Break the VFR/IFR wall Train, Equip and Change the CultureTrain, Equip and Change the Culture

• Change standard vertical flight Change standard vertical flight profilesprofiles

• Acceptance and deployment of Night Acceptance and deployment of Night Vision Goggles Vision Goggles

Instrument Rating

HELICOPTER pilotIFR

SKILLS

YEARS IN CAREER

• Accepting RealityAccepting Reality– Unpredictable and unknown flight conditions Unpredictable and unknown flight conditions

will remain a factor in HEMS missions.will remain a factor in HEMS missions.– HEMS pilots will continue to accept VFR HEMS pilots will continue to accept VFR

missions that cannot be completed safely in missions that cannot be completed safely in VMC.VMC.

• Dealing with RealityDealing with Reality– VFR HEMS pilots must be capable and VFR HEMS pilots must be capable and

confident in IMC.confident in IMC.– VFR HEMS operators must equip helicopters for VFR HEMS operators must equip helicopters for

inadvertent IMC and train pilots accordingly.inadvertent IMC and train pilots accordingly.– Pilots must unhesitatingly fly their company’s Pilots must unhesitatingly fly their company’s

IMC recovery plan when necessary without fear IMC recovery plan when necessary without fear of reprimand. of reprimand.

#1- Breaking the VFR/IFR #1- Breaking the VFR/IFR WallWall

Train for IMCTrain for IMC

• Conduct Instrument Conduct Instrument Proficiency Checks every Proficiency Checks every six months utilizing six months utilizing 2/2/20 aircraft control 2/2/20 aircraft control standardsstandards

• Require pilots to perform Require pilots to perform routine instrument routine instrument approaches for approaches for procedural proficiencyprocedural proficiency

HELICOPTER pilot

Instrument Rating

IFR

SKILLS

YEARS IN CAREER

#1- Breaking the VFR/IFR Wall#1- Breaking the VFR/IFR WallTrain, Equip and Change the CultureTrain, Equip and Change the Culture

““2, 2 and 20” Maneuver 2, 2 and 20” Maneuver • Maintain straight-and-level flight: heading Maintain straight-and-level flight: heading

within 2 degrees, airspeed within 2 knots and within 2 degrees, airspeed within 2 knots and altitude within 20 feet (for at least 2 minutes).altitude within 20 feet (for at least 2 minutes).

• In visual conditions – no view limiting device In visual conditions – no view limiting device requiredrequired

Commercial Pilot Standards

2,2 and 20 Standards

Equip Aircraft for IMCEquip Aircraft for IMC• Ensure aircraft and have Ensure aircraft and have

basic instruments, basic instruments, communication and communication and navigation radios and navigation radios and MELs written accordinglyMELs written accordingly

• Consider installation of Consider installation of hand-held GPS system hand-held GPS system with terrain, obstacles and with terrain, obstacles and GPS driven flight GPS driven flight instruments instruments

#1- Breaking the VFR/IFR Wall#1- Breaking the VFR/IFR WallTrain, Equip and Change the CultureTrain, Equip and Change the Culture

Change the Culture of IMC FearChange the Culture of IMC Fear

• Place emphasis on instrument flying as a Place emphasis on instrument flying as a core pilot skill – core pilot skill – especiallyespecially VFR-only VFR-only operators.operators.

• Issue an appropriate policy statement Issue an appropriate policy statement supporting pilots that reject low altitude supporting pilots that reject low altitude “scud-running” and elect safer emergency “scud-running” and elect safer emergency IFR alternatives.IFR alternatives.

#1- Breaking the VFR/IFR Wall#1- Breaking the VFR/IFR WallTrain, Equip and Change the CultureTrain, Equip and Change the Culture

#2- Change Vertical Profiles#2- Change Vertical Profiles• Establish night time vertical take-off Establish night time vertical take-off

to at least 100 feet AGL when OGE to at least 100 feet AGL when OGE performance is availableperformance is available

• Establish night time 1,000 foot AGL Establish night time 1,000 foot AGL minimum enrouteminimum enroute

100 Ft AGL

1000 Ft AGL minimum

H

500 Ft AGL – Common enroute altitude

90th Percentile US Obstruction

50th Percentile

#3- Night Vision Goggles#3- Night Vision Goggles

• NVGs are a safety enhancement that NVGs are a safety enhancement that will reduce CFIT incidents will reduce CFIT incidents andand night night time inadvertent IMC.time inadvertent IMC.

• Make possible the performance of Make possible the performance of certain night time operations resulting certain night time operations resulting in increased productivity and revenuein increased productivity and revenue

#3- Night Vision Goggles #3- Night Vision Goggles

• Significant improvements in last decadeSignificant improvements in last decade– Acuity increasedAcuity increased– Halo effect reducedHalo effect reduced– Adaptability to bright and changing light Adaptability to bright and changing light

conditionsconditions

• Aircraft exterior lighting changes are Aircraft exterior lighting changes are notnot necessary (search light, landing lights, necessary (search light, landing lights, etc)etc)

• STC standards for cockpit lighting are STC standards for cockpit lighting are based on older generation goggles and based on older generation goggles and should be reviewed – a totally NVG should be reviewed – a totally NVG compatible cockpit is no longer necessary!compatible cockpit is no longer necessary!

SummarySummary• HEMS pilots should be encouraged to develop and HEMS pilots should be encouraged to develop and

maintain their instrument flying as a core pilot skill.maintain their instrument flying as a core pilot skill.• Helicopters flying HEMS missions at night must be Helicopters flying HEMS missions at night must be

equipped for emergency IMC. equipped for emergency IMC. • Our culture and standards should discourage low-Our culture and standards should discourage low-

level “scud-running” over safer, well thought out level “scud-running” over safer, well thought out alternatives.alternatives.

• Helicopter pilots should fly higher – especially at Helicopter pilots should fly higher – especially at night. night.

• NVGs should be used by all HEMS operators working NVGs should be used by all HEMS operators working at night. at night.

• Aviation authorities should work to facilitate this Aviation authorities should work to facilitate this goal by re-evaluating standards for certification and goal by re-evaluating standards for certification and addition to Part 135 operations specifications.addition to Part 135 operations specifications.

Thank you!Thank you!

Please contact me with Please contact me with questions via email at:questions via email at:Paul.schaaf@fairfaxcounty.gPaul.schaaf@fairfaxcounty.govov